Why look for an alternative
People search for an alternative to CutList Optimizer for all sorts of reasons. Maybe you want something that is free and stays free, maybe you do not want to make an account before you can see a result, or maybe you just want to compare a couple of tools before you settle on one. Whatever the reason, the job is the same: turn a list of parts into a clear cutting plan that wastes as little sheet material as possible.
cutlistlab is built for exactly that. It is free, it runs in your browser, and you can use the whole thing without signing up. You can try it on a real project first and decide for yourself whether it earns a place in your workflow.
What cutlistlab gives you
cutlistlab focuses on getting the layout right and staying out of your way. The core is a strong optimizer that tries several packing strategies and keeps the best result, so you usually buy fewer sheets than you would by laying parts out by hand. Around that core you get the things that matter on real cuts:
- Free with no sign-up. Open the tool and start. No account, no paywall in front of your first result.
- Runs in the browser. Nothing to install on a phone, tablet or computer, which makes it easy to use right at the workbench.
- Least waste. The optimizer packs your parts onto as few sheets as possible and accounts for the saw blade kerf.
- Grain direction. Mark a part as grain-fixed and it stays oriented correctly; parts without grain rotate freely to pack tighter.
- Offcut and remnant stock. Add leftover panels you already have so they get used before you cut into a full sheet.
- Printable labels. Print labels for each part so the cut pieces are easy to keep track of.
- Cabinet designer. A parametric cabinet helper turns a few dimensions into a full parts list, ready to optimize.
- Metric and imperial. Work in millimetres or in inches and feet, whichever you already use.
How cutlistlab and CutList Optimizer compare
CutList Optimizer earned its place. It is fast, it is trusted, and its mobile app is one of the most installed woodworking apps anywhere, with a strong rating. You can start without an account. Where it asks something back is the free tier: it caps how many calculations you run per day and how many cut lists you save, and the paid tiers exist to lift those limits. cutlistlab takes a different line, free with no daily cap, plus a few extras aimed at home projects. Here is the honest side by side.
| Feature | CutList Optimizer | cutlistlab |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier with limits; paid tiers remove them | Free, no daily limit, no paywall |
| Start without an account | Yes | Yes |
| Platform | Web plus excellent Android and iOS apps | Web, mobile-first |
| Optimization goal | Least waste | Least waste, fewest cuts, or lowest cost |
| Cabinet designer | No | Yes, a parametric cabinet helper |
| Offcut and remnant stock | Limited | Yes, kept across projects |
| Grain direction and kerf | Yes | Yes |
| Printable labels and CSV | Yes | Yes, labels plus CSV in and out |
| Library of real store sheet sizes | No | Yes |
| Save and sync account | Yes, on paid tiers | Optional and free |
Best for: pick CutList Optimizer for the most trusted name and the best mobile app; pick cutlistlab for free use with no daily limit, a cabinet helper, and offcut stock. See the full comparison of cut list optimizers for the other tools too.
All features compared
And here is how cutlistlab stacks up feature by feature against the two other well-known tools. ✓ = yes, ✗ = no, partial = limited.
| Feature | cutlistlab | CutList Optimizer | OptiCutter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2D panel cutting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 1D linear cutting (beams, battens) | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Saw kerf accounted for | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wood grain direction | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Optimize for lowest cost | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Choice of goals (waste / cuts / cost) | ✓ | partial | partial |
| Numbered cutting order | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Offcut stock kept across projects | ✓ | partial | ✗ |
| Parametric cabinet designer | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| 3D exploded view | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Library of real store sheets + prices | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| DXF export (for CAD) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| API | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multilingual | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Metric and imperial | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free with no daily limit | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Start without an account | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Own mobile app (Android / iOS) | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
Based on each tool's own site and apps in 2026. Details can change.
How it works in three steps
- Enter your parts. Add each part with its length, width and quantity, and give it a name so it is easy to match later.
- Pick your sheet. Choose a standard sheet size or enter your own, set the kerf, and add any offcuts you already have.
- Read the plan. cutlistlab packs everything onto the fewest sheets, shows the layout as a drawing, lists the cuts, and tells you how many sheets you need.
Want to compare it yourself? Open the free optimizer, enter your parts and see the layout with the least waste. No sign-up, nothing to install.
Frequently asked questions
Is cutlistlab free?
Yes, and it needs no sign-up. It runs in your browser and your projects stay on your device unless you choose to create an account.
Do I need to install anything?
No. cutlistlab runs entirely in your browser on a phone, tablet or computer. Nothing to download.
Does it work in metric and imperial?
Yes. Enter part sizes and sheet sizes in millimetres or in inches and feet, whichever you prefer.
Can it handle grain direction and offcuts?
Yes. Mark a part as grain-fixed to keep it oriented correctly, and add offcuts you already have so they get used first.